Katerina Francisco

reporter

Philippines

Katerina Francisco

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Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo doesn't shy away from long journeys. Like an overnight bus ride to her hometown Naga City, Robredo slowly but surely took the lead in a tight vice presidential race.

Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo and daughters visit the monument of her late husband DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo inside the Eternal Gardens in Naga City before voting on Monday. Photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler. Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo is up against 4 other candidates with ties to the vote-rich Bicol region.

MANILA, Philippines – Vice Presidential candidate Leni Robredo's message throughout her campaign is centered in uplifting the lives of the marginalized. Farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous people gather at the Quezon City Memorial Circle to back Robredo's bid in hopes of sending her off to the second highest post of the land.

MANILA, Philippines – Two presidential candidates have promised outright tax exemptions for low-income earners, but for economists, the Philippines needs a more comprehensive overhaul of the 19-year-old tax system to make it more equitable for all economic classes. Should Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte win the presidency, those earning P20,000 and below won't have to pay income taxes.

MANILA, Philippines – The monstrous traffic jams in Metro Manila and the lack of reliable public transport in other Philippine cities have become an electoral issue. The 5 candidates for the presidency are being asked about their plans and policies to address the problem that is costing the Philippines billions in productivity losses.

Building more train lines and adding the necessary infrastructure are among the proposals of the presidential candidates. Photo by Mark Saludes/Rappler. MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines incurs billions in productivity losses due to traffic, and the situation in the capital region may just get worse if the government fails to arrest the worsening traffic jams that paralyze Metro Manila every day.

MANILA, Philippines – Promising that "the best is yet to come" for the Philippines, Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II sought to convince Filipino businessmen that he is the presidential bet most qualified to sustain the country's status as a fast-rising economic star in the region.

MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila is very car-centric, and it’s a problem aggravated by the increasing number of vehicles available on the market and on the road. To reduce automobile use and move toward a more environmentally-friendly transport option, the Philippines can look at several transportation solutions being implemented in one European country famous for its love affair with cars: Germany.

MANILA, Philippines – It only takes a glance at Metro Manila’s major thoroughfare to know how bad traffic is in the Philippines’ national capital region. Rush hour or not, EDSA seems perpetually stuck in a state of congestion. Cars crawl along the 23.9-km highway and easily spend at least an hour in non-moving traffic.

A group of students hold a dance rehearsal at the entrance of the Iloilo Esplanade. All photos by Katerina Francisco/Rappler. ILOILO CITY, Philippines – It’s a hot summer day in the Philippines’ city of love, but the heat is nothing to a group of young Filipinos who seem to be in the middle of a dance routine.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – With Asia posting some of the highest numbers of deaths due to road accidents, a new safety campaign aims to help arrest the alarming figures of what experts say is a preventable global health issue. Starting Saturday, February 13, educational videos and public service announcements started airing in 24 countries across Asia – reaching an estimated 80 million households – with the launch of the Safe Steps road safety campaign.

The neophyte lawmaker is aware that she lacks the funds – and the name recall – compared to her more politically seasoned rivals for the second highest post of the land. Her recent survey standing reflects this: while the January Pulse Asia survey shows a 4 percentage-point increase in her numbers, she still ranks third, trailing behind frontrunner Senator Francis Escudero and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.